BRENT: With their sharp teeth and powerful jaws, crocodiles have earned themselves the reputation of being one of the fiercest hunters in the animal kingdom.
This harsh and often violent way of life in the wild leaves little wonder as to why these giant reptiles would want to keep an eye out for potential predators themselves.
In a study featured in The Journal of Experimental Biology, scientists at the La Trobe University in Australia have discovered that crocodiles engage in an unusual sleeping behavior called unihemispheric sleep.
This sleep pattern often involves keeping one eye open during rest, which is neurologically connected to the part of the brain that remains watchful.
While there is still much to learn about this behavior known as unilateral eye closure (UEC), it is generally believed that it is used to keep alert for potential dangers in the wild.
La Trobe researcher John Lesku explained that this behavior can also be seen in marine mammals, such as killer whales and bottlenose dolphins. He said that these animals use this ability to keep track of each other’s movement in the water.
Lesku offered several possible explanations why animals engage in unilateral eye closure.
“It is thought that [UEC] reflects a way of maintaining group cohesiveness in a highly social animal,” Lesku said.
“It could also be that, in a fairly boring aquarium, they simply keep their open eye on the most interesting thing — each other.”
Lesku also pointed out that further research is needed in order to observe this sleep behavior in animals in their natural habitats.
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